gift for erikssiren
Author: kelbebop
Recipient: erikssiren
Title: Harmony
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan
Summary: Chad wondered idly if they had halftime at these fancy concerts. People had to go to the bathroom sometime, right? Maybe he and Ryan could step out to "get some air." Chad grinned widely at the thought.
Rating: PG
Warning(s): none
Word Count: 3,833
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: For any readers unfamiliar with Camille Saint-Saëns' musical suite Le Carnaval des Animaux, there are many places online you can see performances. In particular, the movements I mention in this story are:
"Hémiones" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiM3imB0icU),
"Fossiles" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh_ZibM6YLk) and
"Le Cygne" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzhdyLKnCfs).
My beta readers deserve a standing ovation for making this story so much better. Bravo!
Harmony
"I'm so glad you could join us, Chad."
Chad smiled bashfully and nodded, struck dumb in the presence of Ryan's mother. Even after working at Lava Springs all last summer, even after a few weeks of "officially" dating Ryan, Mrs. Evans still made him feel like a little schoolboy with a crush on his teacher. His pretty blonde teacher who complimented him and dressed like a sophisticated socialite from the movies and always smelled nice and....
Chad noticed Mrs. Evans was smiling at him expectantly and found his voice. "Thanks," he croaked, before clearing his throat and continuing, "Thank you very much for inviting me, Mrs. Evans. I've never been to the symphony before." He flushed as he added, "I hope I don't embarrass you guys."
Mrs. Evans laughed melodically as she placed a hand on Chad's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Not to worry, dear. You can sit between me and Ryan, and we'll fill you in."
"Speaking of...." She frowned for a brief moment as she glanced up at the staircase. "Where on earth are they? We're going to miss the start of the concert if they don't hurry up!"
Mrs. Evans offered Chad a warm smile. "Pardon me a moment, won't you?"
Chad expected her to leave him in the foyer while she went upstairs to hunt down her children, but instead she unleashed the powerful voice he had heard many times on the golf course at Lava Springs.
"SHARPAY! RYAN! IF YOU AREN'T DOWN HERE AND READY TO GO IN 30 SECONDS, CHAD AND I ARE GOING TO THE CONCERT WITHOUT YOU! MOVE IT!"
Chad laughed as he rubbed at his ringing ears. Mrs. Evans's bellowing cry was even more impressive in the enclosed foyer of the Evans’ estate than on the open green.
He shared an amused smile with Mrs. Evans when stomping footsteps sounded on the stairs almost immediately.
"Mom, would you please remind Sharpay that Boi is not allowed to sleep on my bed?" Ryan was intently brushing off a brown silk fedora as he descended the stairs.
Sharpay waved a dismissive hand in her brother's face. "Oh, whatever, Ryan!"
"Whatever? He was napping on my new hat, Shar! I haven't even worn this yet and it's all misshapen and covered in dog hair!" Ryan fretted as he smoothed out a large indentation in the crown of the hat.
"It's not like you don't have like, a million hats! Just wear another one!"
Ryan growled in frustration. "That's not the point! He's not supposed to be in my room. PERIOD! If I find him in there again, I'll--"
"You'll do what?" Sharpay challenged, rolling her eyes. "Call for Mother?"
Chad shook his head in bemusement, chuckling softly as the twins continued to bicker all the way down to the foyer.
Mrs. Evans, meanwhile, was anxiously waving her children down the stairs, handing them their coats and ushering them out the door immediately. Chad followed in their wake.
"Hey!" Ryan greeted brightly, falling back to give Chad a greeting hug and kiss on the cheek. "You look really good."
"Hey yourself," Chad grinned in return, sliding his arm around Ryan's shoulder to pull the other boy closer and give him a peck on the lips. "You look amazing. New suit?"
"This old thing?" Ryan teased, smoothing a hand over the front of his pinstriped brown wool suit jacket. "Nah, I've had it for a whole..." He glanced down at his wristwatch, then grinned widely up at Chad. "Six hours." He took Chad's hand in his, twining their fingers together.
"Oh puh-leeze!" Even though her back was to them, Chad knew Sharpay was rolling her eyes. He could practically hear it. "He looks good, you look good, we all look good! Are you guys gonna be like this all night?"
"Nice to see you too, Princess," Chad replied cheerfully.
The boys shared a cheeky grin as Sharpay heaved an annoyed sigh.
----
"Wow..." Chad murmured in awe as he followed Mrs. Evans and the twins past the rows of plush red velvet seats.
As Mrs. Evans strode down the aisle, her children following behind, she was warmly greeted by nearly everyone they passed. Many also greeted Ryan and Sharpay, asking about school and possible college choices. Some were even bold enough to add their curious inquiries as to the whereabouts of the jet-setting Mr. Evans. Everyone in the auditorium seemed to know the Evans family.
What Chad found even more remarkable was that the Evanses seemed to know everyone just as well. Without skipping a beat or slowing their progression through the aisle, Mrs. Evans and her children returned each greeting graciously, usually addressing the person by name. Chad could barely remember the names of the states and their capitals from his Geography test last week. It boggled his mind that Ryan could remember the names of all his mother's society friends.
Hanging back at the rear of the group, Chad wondered if this was what it felt like to be a member of a celebrity's entourage. It was all very surreal. He wasn't really going to some fancy symphony concert with the Evans family, was he? This wasn't the kind of thing he did. Like, ever.
Just like he didn't ever dance. Or date boys.
Okay, maybe he could give this whole symphony thing a chance, too.
"Hey." A voice sounded in Chad's ear, shaking him out of his thoughts.
Chad turned to see Ryan walking beside him, grinning. "Better quit lollygagging, or you might lose your seat."
"Lollygagging?" Chad snorted. "Who says that? What does that even mean?"
Ryan laughed melodically, sounding very much like his mother. "Yeah, you big dork, lollygagging. It means you better pick up the pace if you wanna sit next to me. Shar and I usually sit together for these things."
Chad didn't even have to ask where they were sitting, for he immediately saw Sharpay standing in front of her seated mother, arms crossed over her chest and a petulant scowl creasing her face. The seats around them were completely empty, almost as if they had their own private section. As Chad and Ryan approached the two women, Chad could hear Mrs. Evans speaking to her daughter in the soft, soothing tones Ryan called her "yoga voice."
"...but Kitten, this is Chad's first time here, and he's our guest. Your father specifically invited Chad to use his ticket when he learned he would be in Tokyo for this concert. Can't you give up your seat just this once so Chad can sit between your brother and me? Besides," Mrs. Evans continued, smiling winsomely at her daughter, "I already promised him we would give him a good introduction to the symphony. Think of it this way...you'll be helping to expose one of your school chums to the world of classical music."
Chad was completely unsurprised when Sharpay rolled her eyes. "He's not my chum, Mother. He's just the guy my judgment-impaired brother is dating."
Sharpay waved a finely-manicured hand toward Ryan and Chad, half-heartedly acknowledging their presence. "Anyway, I'm not getting shoved over to the end just so Basketball Head can get some culture."
Mrs. Evans frowned, though her tone was still soft. "Manners, Kitten!"
"But Mommy," Sharpay pleaded, her voice becoming syrupy-sweet. "I always sit next to Ryan. I simply can't enjoy the concert if he's so far away."
"You can still sit next to your brother, darling! You'll just have to sit on the other side of him," Mrs. Evans said practically.
"It's not the same," Sharpay whined. "Can't Chad just sit on the end? Please, Mommy?"
Chad couldn't believe it; Sharpay actually fluttered her eyelashes. "Dude, does your mom actually fall for that act?" he whispered to Ryan, who bit his lip to contain a snigger.
Sharpay spun around to glare at Chad and Ryan before turning back to her mother, her previously-sweet demeanor melting into a full-on pout. "Besides, it's my seat! I don't wanna have to sit next to some stranger who hogs the armrest and wears way too much cologne."
Chad glanced over at Ryan, who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes good-naturedly as Mrs. Evans attempted to placate Sharpay.
"Um, excuse me," Chad cut in. Sharpay and Mrs. Evans turned to look at him, their gazes sharp and intense. Chad was reminded of the time he had inadvertently walked into a heated argument between his parents -- their faces had looked exactly the same.
Chad swallowed nervously before continuing, "Uh...sorry to interrupt. But...um. I don't really care where I sit. I mean, I'd like to sit next to Ryan," Chad paused to smile at the other boy before continuing, "Um...but if it's gonna cause problems then I don't mind sitting next to stinky armrest-stealer guy." As Chad glanced at the empty seats around them, he realized this wasn’t much of an offer, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. He shrugged casually. "Whatever. I'm just happy you invited me."
Both Ryan and Mrs. Evans gave identical bright, beaming smiles and Chad knew it had been the right thing to say. He felt his cheeks heat up as he shyly returned their smiles.
Mrs. Evans gazed at her daughter expectantly. It was only a moment before Sharpay huffed a dramatic sigh and conceded.
"Oh, all right! Fine. I'll sit on the end so you guys can make a jock sandwich. But I'm sitting on the other side of Ryan, so you better behave yourselves."
Sharpay put her hands on her hips and leaned in uncomfortably close to Chad. "You hear that? That means no kissing, no giggling, no fondling, no PDA of any kind. I'm here to listen to music, not to watch you guys suck face.” She turned on her heel and sidestepped down the row, smoothing her skirt over her lap as she sank into one of the cushioned seats.
“Oh my god, Shar!” Ryan looked horrified as he followed, taking the next seat. “I would never...! You know me better than that. Don’t be gross!”
Ryan’s eyes widened as he turned back to Chad. “I mean…not to say that making out with you would be gross!” His cheeks flushed a vivid pink. “You know I don’t think making out with you is gross. Of course, I love it…I mean, like it…I mean….”
Chad laughed softly as he slid into the seat next to Ryan, watching as the other boy floundered for a few more moments, looking more adorably flustered with every clumsily-uttered word.
Finally, Chad decided to have pity on his boyfriend before he really did humiliate himself. “Dude, chill,” he laughed, “I know!” Chad reached over to squeeze Ryan’s knee, only to hastily retrieve his hand when Sharpay shot him an icy glare and pointed a threatening finger. Folding his hands in his lap, he continued, “I mean, I’m not a complete pig. I know there’s a time and a place for stuff like that. Right?” He smiled at Ryan, who nodded his agreement.
But as the members of the orchestra entered the stage, prompting polite applause from the audience, Chad had to admit (to himself, at least) that he was a little disappointed. As much as he liked spending time with Mrs. Evans, a chaperoned night at the symphony was hardly his idea of a hot date. He wondered idly if they had halftime at these fancy concerts. People had to go to the bathroom sometime, right? Maybe he and Ryan could step out to "get some air." Chad grinned widely at the thought.
As if he had just read the other boy's mind, Ryan leaned over to whisper in Chad’s ear. “I'll make it up to you at intermission.”
Chad turned to Ryan, raising his eyebrows when the other boy simply gave a sweetly mischievous smile.
----
As the orchestra played a majestic final chord, Chad raised his hands from his lap to applaud, halting only when Mrs. Evans curled her hands tightly around his.
“Not just yet, sweetheart,” she whispered, “This is just the end of the movement. We don’t applaud until the end, after all the movements have been performed.”
Chad nodded in understanding. “Oh, okay.” He smiled at her as the orchestra started the next movement. “Thanks, Mrs. E.”
“My pleasure, Chad.”
As Mrs. Evans returned her attention to the musicians on stage, Chad leaned over to his other side to whisper to Ryan. "Hey. This is fun."
Ryan turned and smiled, whispering, "You think?"
"Yeah," Chad answered, smiling in return, "Totally."
Ryan looked at him for a long moment, grinning softly, before turning back to face the stage.
Chad took advantage of Ryan's diverted attention to watch the other boy as he listened to the music. Ryan leaned forward in his seat, closing his eyes and smiling serenely, in complete contrast to the feverishly fast notes being played on the two pianos. It was as if the music was taking him someplace else -- someplace warm and happy, judging from Ryan's blissful expression. When the movement ended, Ryan took a deep breath, slowly exhaling it as he opened his eyes. He turned and glanced past Chad to smile warmly at his mother.
Chad followed Ryan's gaze, meeting Mrs. Evans's eyes. She nodded in acknowledgment, leaning in close to whisper softly when the next movement started.
"When Ryan and Sharpay were six, they started taking dance class together," Mrs. Evans explained. "Their very first recital was a short ballet choreographed to this music."
Chad raised his eyebrows. "Really?" he asked softly.
She nodded, smiling. "Since then, Carnival of the Animals has been a particular favorite of ours."
"I can definitely see why," Chad grinned as he turned back to watch the orchestra, occasionally casting glances over at Ryan.
As a jaunty xylophone solo began, Chad saw Ryan grinning to himself and bobbing his head to the bouncy rhythm, completely un-self-consciously. It made him look younger, Chad thought. Like a carefree little boy.
When the xylophone song ended, Chad watched as Ryan took his sister's hand, squeezing it. A single cello played a very beautiful flowing melody, accompanied only by the two pianos. Chad thought it sounded a bit sad, but the expressions on the faces of Sharpay and Ryan were anything but. They wore matching glowing smiles as they gently swayed in unison to the music. It was almost as if they were dancing, right there in their seats.
Chad was so intent on watching the twins that he didn't even notice Mrs. Evans leaning in close to whisper, "They danced this one together. No one else was on stage...only them. My two beautiful swans." Chad could hear the pride in her wavering voice.
Watching Ryan and Sharpay, Chad couldn't help but smile, too. They seemed to feel the music as much as they heard it. Even in all the time Chad had spent with Ryan lately, he'd never seen Ryan so open and unguarded before. It was kind of weird...but oddly endearing.
Seeing Sharpay getting all misty-eyed over the music...now that was just freaky. Underneath the frosty Ice Princess lurked a human being. With feelings! Who knew? Maybe it was true that music could soothe the savage beast.
----
Chad fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. Though he had listened intently to Mrs. Evans as she whispered stories about Ryan's childhood dance recitals and shared trivia about the composer, Ryan's promise before the show had him practically aching in anticipation during the entire first half of the concert.
Chad wasn't exactly sure what Ryan had meant by "I'll make it up to you," but he was sure it had to be good. Maybe the Evanses had a private suite where they could enjoy a relaxing break from all the society schmoozing. Chad wouldn't have been surprised in the least if they did.
The instant the house lights came up, signaling halftime ("intermission," Chad reminded himself), Ryan grabbed his hand, dragging Chad from his seat as he announced to his mother and sister that they were going to the bathroom and they'd be right back.
Ryan held Chad's hand tightly as he weaved through the crowds milling about in the lobby.
"Dude! Evans!" Chad called out over the din of voices. "We just passed the bathroom. Where are we going?"
Ryan grinned over his shoulder. "You'll see."
A few moments later, Ryan was dragging him through a door, into a corridor, though another door, down a flight of stairs....
"Uh, Ryan? I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to be here."
"Trust me," Ryan chuckled. He opened yet another door and stepped through it, gesturing for Chad to follow.
Chad stepped through the door, gazing around curiously. "What is this place?" He stepped onto a raised concrete slab that overlooked a parked tractor trailer. A single industrial floodlight illuminated the concrete, but as Chad stepped away from the door and the glare of the light, he could see the clear night sky above.
"Loading dock," Ryan said matter-of-factly. "This is how they get all the sets and large instruments and lights and stuff into the auditorium."
"And you know this because..?" Chad asked, grinning.
"Hello? Theatre boy!" Ryan gestured to himself. "I've been in shows here before."
"No!" Chad laughed, unable to resist teasing. "I mean, how do you even know what a loading dock is, Ry? You wouldn't know physical labor if it bit you on the ass!"
Ryan's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Oh, I'll show you physical labor, Danforth!"
He took an aggressive step towards Chad, grabbing the lapels of Chad's suit jacket to pull him close. Chad closed the remainder of the distance, circling his arms around Ryan's waist and covering Ryan's mouth with his.
"God, I've been wanting to do that since I first saw you back at the house," Ryan breathed against Chad's mouth when they finally parted, gasping for breath.
"You have?" Chad laughed as he kissed his way along Ryan's jawline. "Thought I was gonna explode, sitting next to you all prim and proper while your mom talked to me about Saint Saynes--"
"Saint-Saëns?"
"Whatever. The point is, you look really hot tonight and we're on a chaperoned date and it's been driving me crazy to not be able to even touch you. It's like being in homeroom with Darbus or something."
Ryan pulled away, giggling. "You didn't just compare my mom to Ms. Darbus, did you? I thought you liked my mom!"
Chad caught hold of Ryan's tie before he could step away and pulled him back. "Dude, shut up. You know what I mean. How long is intermission, anyway?" He circled his arms around Ryan's waist and interlaced his fingers at the small of the other boy's back.
"Fifteen minutes." Ryan peered down at his watch. "And we've got seven minutes left."
"Then how about less talk and more physical labor?"
Ryan smirked, arching an eyebrow. "You said I wouldn't know physical labor if it bit me on the ass."
"Then I guess I'll have to teach you. Or bite you on the ass. Or something."
Ryan snorted. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"
"Oh, shut up, Evans," Chad growled as he tugged Ryan's body firmly against his, claiming those smirking lips in a hungry kiss.
----
The second half of the concert flew by, and before Chad knew it, he was following Mrs. Evans and the twins out of the auditorium.
"So, did you enjoy your first symphony concert, Chad?" Mrs. Evans asked as the foursome walked back to the car after the concert.
The question was innocent enough, but Chad felt pressured to give the right answer. Especially when Ryan was holding his hand and smiling expectantly at him.
"Um, I liked it a lot," Chad answered honestly. "I've never been to anything like it, so it was...uh...different. But good. I liked the music. I could really picture all the animals in my head."
Ryan's smile widened and he gave Chad's hand a squeeze. Evidently that was good enough. Chad exhaled a sigh of relief. The Evanses had been so nice to him tonight. The last thing he wanted to do was offend them all in one fell swoop.
"I'm so glad," Mrs. Evans said cheerfully. "I know that not everyone likes classical music, especially teenagers," she chuckled, "but I truly believe it has something to offer everyone. After all, Mozart was a bit of a rock star in his time, wasn't he?"
Ryan and Sharpay chuckled. Chad smiled vaguely, feeling like he had missed the punchline of a joke.
"Well, Chad," Mrs. Evans continued, "If you are at all interested, we're just about to renew our season tickets for the symphony. It'd be just as easy to buy five tickets as four. Would you care to join us?"
Chad was stunned, unable to speak. He heard Ryan gasp softly. "Really, Mom?"
"Of course, Ducky!" she answered, laughing. "Your father and I discussed it before he left, and we agreed that if Chad enjoyed the symphony then we should invite him to join us next season."
Finally, Chad found his voice. "Wow, that's really nice of you to offer, Mrs. E., but I don't think my mom would let--"
"Nonsense," Mrs. Evans cut him off. "You're a friend of the family, and we enjoy treating our friends to a nice evening out now and then." She took his hand, smiling at him eagerly. "Surely your mother will understand? I can have a talk with her if you’d like."
Chad looked to Ryan helplessly, but the other boy looked even more eager than his mother. The only one who didn't look absolutely thrilled at the prospect was Sharpay, who was preoccupied with texting one of her girlfriends on her cell phone.
Chad chewed his lower lip, considering the offer. To be honest, he had no idea what his mom would think about it. It was just the first excuse off the top of his head. The symphony tickets were expensive. It was probably just pocket change to Ryan and his family, but Chad knew he would always feel indebted to them for the extravagant gift. Especially when he was still scrimping and saving every penny to buy a car.
"Please say you'll join us," Mrs. Evans said gently after a few moments. "You don't have to attend every concert. I know you're very busy with sports and applying to colleges. But we'd love it if you could make it to a few."
Chad exhaled a long breath and nodded. "If my mom says it's okay, then I'd like that, too."
Ryan practically squeaked his giddy delight, leaning up on his toes to press a smacky kiss to Chad's temple.
Chad felt his cheeks burn as he blushed. "Dude, not in front of your mom!"
But as his half-hearted protests prompted ever more enthusiastic displays of affection from Ryan, Chad realized with a grin that he'd have a lot more intermissions with Ryan to look forward to in the future.
~The End~
Recipient: erikssiren
Title: Harmony
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan
Summary: Chad wondered idly if they had halftime at these fancy concerts. People had to go to the bathroom sometime, right? Maybe he and Ryan could step out to "get some air." Chad grinned widely at the thought.
Rating: PG
Warning(s): none
Word Count: 3,833
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: For any readers unfamiliar with Camille Saint-Saëns' musical suite Le Carnaval des Animaux, there are many places online you can see performances. In particular, the movements I mention in this story are:
"Hémiones" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiM3imB0icU),
"Fossiles" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh_ZibM6YLk) and
"Le Cygne" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzhdyLKnCfs).
My beta readers deserve a standing ovation for making this story so much better. Bravo!
Harmony
"I'm so glad you could join us, Chad."
Chad smiled bashfully and nodded, struck dumb in the presence of Ryan's mother. Even after working at Lava Springs all last summer, even after a few weeks of "officially" dating Ryan, Mrs. Evans still made him feel like a little schoolboy with a crush on his teacher. His pretty blonde teacher who complimented him and dressed like a sophisticated socialite from the movies and always smelled nice and....
Chad noticed Mrs. Evans was smiling at him expectantly and found his voice. "Thanks," he croaked, before clearing his throat and continuing, "Thank you very much for inviting me, Mrs. Evans. I've never been to the symphony before." He flushed as he added, "I hope I don't embarrass you guys."
Mrs. Evans laughed melodically as she placed a hand on Chad's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Not to worry, dear. You can sit between me and Ryan, and we'll fill you in."
"Speaking of...." She frowned for a brief moment as she glanced up at the staircase. "Where on earth are they? We're going to miss the start of the concert if they don't hurry up!"
Mrs. Evans offered Chad a warm smile. "Pardon me a moment, won't you?"
Chad expected her to leave him in the foyer while she went upstairs to hunt down her children, but instead she unleashed the powerful voice he had heard many times on the golf course at Lava Springs.
"SHARPAY! RYAN! IF YOU AREN'T DOWN HERE AND READY TO GO IN 30 SECONDS, CHAD AND I ARE GOING TO THE CONCERT WITHOUT YOU! MOVE IT!"
Chad laughed as he rubbed at his ringing ears. Mrs. Evans's bellowing cry was even more impressive in the enclosed foyer of the Evans’ estate than on the open green.
He shared an amused smile with Mrs. Evans when stomping footsteps sounded on the stairs almost immediately.
"Mom, would you please remind Sharpay that Boi is not allowed to sleep on my bed?" Ryan was intently brushing off a brown silk fedora as he descended the stairs.
Sharpay waved a dismissive hand in her brother's face. "Oh, whatever, Ryan!"
"Whatever? He was napping on my new hat, Shar! I haven't even worn this yet and it's all misshapen and covered in dog hair!" Ryan fretted as he smoothed out a large indentation in the crown of the hat.
"It's not like you don't have like, a million hats! Just wear another one!"
Ryan growled in frustration. "That's not the point! He's not supposed to be in my room. PERIOD! If I find him in there again, I'll--"
"You'll do what?" Sharpay challenged, rolling her eyes. "Call for Mother?"
Chad shook his head in bemusement, chuckling softly as the twins continued to bicker all the way down to the foyer.
Mrs. Evans, meanwhile, was anxiously waving her children down the stairs, handing them their coats and ushering them out the door immediately. Chad followed in their wake.
"Hey!" Ryan greeted brightly, falling back to give Chad a greeting hug and kiss on the cheek. "You look really good."
"Hey yourself," Chad grinned in return, sliding his arm around Ryan's shoulder to pull the other boy closer and give him a peck on the lips. "You look amazing. New suit?"
"This old thing?" Ryan teased, smoothing a hand over the front of his pinstriped brown wool suit jacket. "Nah, I've had it for a whole..." He glanced down at his wristwatch, then grinned widely up at Chad. "Six hours." He took Chad's hand in his, twining their fingers together.
"Oh puh-leeze!" Even though her back was to them, Chad knew Sharpay was rolling her eyes. He could practically hear it. "He looks good, you look good, we all look good! Are you guys gonna be like this all night?"
"Nice to see you too, Princess," Chad replied cheerfully.
The boys shared a cheeky grin as Sharpay heaved an annoyed sigh.
----
"Wow..." Chad murmured in awe as he followed Mrs. Evans and the twins past the rows of plush red velvet seats.
As Mrs. Evans strode down the aisle, her children following behind, she was warmly greeted by nearly everyone they passed. Many also greeted Ryan and Sharpay, asking about school and possible college choices. Some were even bold enough to add their curious inquiries as to the whereabouts of the jet-setting Mr. Evans. Everyone in the auditorium seemed to know the Evans family.
What Chad found even more remarkable was that the Evanses seemed to know everyone just as well. Without skipping a beat or slowing their progression through the aisle, Mrs. Evans and her children returned each greeting graciously, usually addressing the person by name. Chad could barely remember the names of the states and their capitals from his Geography test last week. It boggled his mind that Ryan could remember the names of all his mother's society friends.
Hanging back at the rear of the group, Chad wondered if this was what it felt like to be a member of a celebrity's entourage. It was all very surreal. He wasn't really going to some fancy symphony concert with the Evans family, was he? This wasn't the kind of thing he did. Like, ever.
Just like he didn't ever dance. Or date boys.
Okay, maybe he could give this whole symphony thing a chance, too.
"Hey." A voice sounded in Chad's ear, shaking him out of his thoughts.
Chad turned to see Ryan walking beside him, grinning. "Better quit lollygagging, or you might lose your seat."
"Lollygagging?" Chad snorted. "Who says that? What does that even mean?"
Ryan laughed melodically, sounding very much like his mother. "Yeah, you big dork, lollygagging. It means you better pick up the pace if you wanna sit next to me. Shar and I usually sit together for these things."
Chad didn't even have to ask where they were sitting, for he immediately saw Sharpay standing in front of her seated mother, arms crossed over her chest and a petulant scowl creasing her face. The seats around them were completely empty, almost as if they had their own private section. As Chad and Ryan approached the two women, Chad could hear Mrs. Evans speaking to her daughter in the soft, soothing tones Ryan called her "yoga voice."
"...but Kitten, this is Chad's first time here, and he's our guest. Your father specifically invited Chad to use his ticket when he learned he would be in Tokyo for this concert. Can't you give up your seat just this once so Chad can sit between your brother and me? Besides," Mrs. Evans continued, smiling winsomely at her daughter, "I already promised him we would give him a good introduction to the symphony. Think of it this way...you'll be helping to expose one of your school chums to the world of classical music."
Chad was completely unsurprised when Sharpay rolled her eyes. "He's not my chum, Mother. He's just the guy my judgment-impaired brother is dating."
Sharpay waved a finely-manicured hand toward Ryan and Chad, half-heartedly acknowledging their presence. "Anyway, I'm not getting shoved over to the end just so Basketball Head can get some culture."
Mrs. Evans frowned, though her tone was still soft. "Manners, Kitten!"
"But Mommy," Sharpay pleaded, her voice becoming syrupy-sweet. "I always sit next to Ryan. I simply can't enjoy the concert if he's so far away."
"You can still sit next to your brother, darling! You'll just have to sit on the other side of him," Mrs. Evans said practically.
"It's not the same," Sharpay whined. "Can't Chad just sit on the end? Please, Mommy?"
Chad couldn't believe it; Sharpay actually fluttered her eyelashes. "Dude, does your mom actually fall for that act?" he whispered to Ryan, who bit his lip to contain a snigger.
Sharpay spun around to glare at Chad and Ryan before turning back to her mother, her previously-sweet demeanor melting into a full-on pout. "Besides, it's my seat! I don't wanna have to sit next to some stranger who hogs the armrest and wears way too much cologne."
Chad glanced over at Ryan, who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes good-naturedly as Mrs. Evans attempted to placate Sharpay.
"Um, excuse me," Chad cut in. Sharpay and Mrs. Evans turned to look at him, their gazes sharp and intense. Chad was reminded of the time he had inadvertently walked into a heated argument between his parents -- their faces had looked exactly the same.
Chad swallowed nervously before continuing, "Uh...sorry to interrupt. But...um. I don't really care where I sit. I mean, I'd like to sit next to Ryan," Chad paused to smile at the other boy before continuing, "Um...but if it's gonna cause problems then I don't mind sitting next to stinky armrest-stealer guy." As Chad glanced at the empty seats around them, he realized this wasn’t much of an offer, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. He shrugged casually. "Whatever. I'm just happy you invited me."
Both Ryan and Mrs. Evans gave identical bright, beaming smiles and Chad knew it had been the right thing to say. He felt his cheeks heat up as he shyly returned their smiles.
Mrs. Evans gazed at her daughter expectantly. It was only a moment before Sharpay huffed a dramatic sigh and conceded.
"Oh, all right! Fine. I'll sit on the end so you guys can make a jock sandwich. But I'm sitting on the other side of Ryan, so you better behave yourselves."
Sharpay put her hands on her hips and leaned in uncomfortably close to Chad. "You hear that? That means no kissing, no giggling, no fondling, no PDA of any kind. I'm here to listen to music, not to watch you guys suck face.” She turned on her heel and sidestepped down the row, smoothing her skirt over her lap as she sank into one of the cushioned seats.
“Oh my god, Shar!” Ryan looked horrified as he followed, taking the next seat. “I would never...! You know me better than that. Don’t be gross!”
Ryan’s eyes widened as he turned back to Chad. “I mean…not to say that making out with you would be gross!” His cheeks flushed a vivid pink. “You know I don’t think making out with you is gross. Of course, I love it…I mean, like it…I mean….”
Chad laughed softly as he slid into the seat next to Ryan, watching as the other boy floundered for a few more moments, looking more adorably flustered with every clumsily-uttered word.
Finally, Chad decided to have pity on his boyfriend before he really did humiliate himself. “Dude, chill,” he laughed, “I know!” Chad reached over to squeeze Ryan’s knee, only to hastily retrieve his hand when Sharpay shot him an icy glare and pointed a threatening finger. Folding his hands in his lap, he continued, “I mean, I’m not a complete pig. I know there’s a time and a place for stuff like that. Right?” He smiled at Ryan, who nodded his agreement.
But as the members of the orchestra entered the stage, prompting polite applause from the audience, Chad had to admit (to himself, at least) that he was a little disappointed. As much as he liked spending time with Mrs. Evans, a chaperoned night at the symphony was hardly his idea of a hot date. He wondered idly if they had halftime at these fancy concerts. People had to go to the bathroom sometime, right? Maybe he and Ryan could step out to "get some air." Chad grinned widely at the thought.
As if he had just read the other boy's mind, Ryan leaned over to whisper in Chad’s ear. “I'll make it up to you at intermission.”
Chad turned to Ryan, raising his eyebrows when the other boy simply gave a sweetly mischievous smile.
----
As the orchestra played a majestic final chord, Chad raised his hands from his lap to applaud, halting only when Mrs. Evans curled her hands tightly around his.
“Not just yet, sweetheart,” she whispered, “This is just the end of the movement. We don’t applaud until the end, after all the movements have been performed.”
Chad nodded in understanding. “Oh, okay.” He smiled at her as the orchestra started the next movement. “Thanks, Mrs. E.”
“My pleasure, Chad.”
As Mrs. Evans returned her attention to the musicians on stage, Chad leaned over to his other side to whisper to Ryan. "Hey. This is fun."
Ryan turned and smiled, whispering, "You think?"
"Yeah," Chad answered, smiling in return, "Totally."
Ryan looked at him for a long moment, grinning softly, before turning back to face the stage.
Chad took advantage of Ryan's diverted attention to watch the other boy as he listened to the music. Ryan leaned forward in his seat, closing his eyes and smiling serenely, in complete contrast to the feverishly fast notes being played on the two pianos. It was as if the music was taking him someplace else -- someplace warm and happy, judging from Ryan's blissful expression. When the movement ended, Ryan took a deep breath, slowly exhaling it as he opened his eyes. He turned and glanced past Chad to smile warmly at his mother.
Chad followed Ryan's gaze, meeting Mrs. Evans's eyes. She nodded in acknowledgment, leaning in close to whisper softly when the next movement started.
"When Ryan and Sharpay were six, they started taking dance class together," Mrs. Evans explained. "Their very first recital was a short ballet choreographed to this music."
Chad raised his eyebrows. "Really?" he asked softly.
She nodded, smiling. "Since then, Carnival of the Animals has been a particular favorite of ours."
"I can definitely see why," Chad grinned as he turned back to watch the orchestra, occasionally casting glances over at Ryan.
As a jaunty xylophone solo began, Chad saw Ryan grinning to himself and bobbing his head to the bouncy rhythm, completely un-self-consciously. It made him look younger, Chad thought. Like a carefree little boy.
When the xylophone song ended, Chad watched as Ryan took his sister's hand, squeezing it. A single cello played a very beautiful flowing melody, accompanied only by the two pianos. Chad thought it sounded a bit sad, but the expressions on the faces of Sharpay and Ryan were anything but. They wore matching glowing smiles as they gently swayed in unison to the music. It was almost as if they were dancing, right there in their seats.
Chad was so intent on watching the twins that he didn't even notice Mrs. Evans leaning in close to whisper, "They danced this one together. No one else was on stage...only them. My two beautiful swans." Chad could hear the pride in her wavering voice.
Watching Ryan and Sharpay, Chad couldn't help but smile, too. They seemed to feel the music as much as they heard it. Even in all the time Chad had spent with Ryan lately, he'd never seen Ryan so open and unguarded before. It was kind of weird...but oddly endearing.
Seeing Sharpay getting all misty-eyed over the music...now that was just freaky. Underneath the frosty Ice Princess lurked a human being. With feelings! Who knew? Maybe it was true that music could soothe the savage beast.
----
Chad fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. Though he had listened intently to Mrs. Evans as she whispered stories about Ryan's childhood dance recitals and shared trivia about the composer, Ryan's promise before the show had him practically aching in anticipation during the entire first half of the concert.
Chad wasn't exactly sure what Ryan had meant by "I'll make it up to you," but he was sure it had to be good. Maybe the Evanses had a private suite where they could enjoy a relaxing break from all the society schmoozing. Chad wouldn't have been surprised in the least if they did.
The instant the house lights came up, signaling halftime ("intermission," Chad reminded himself), Ryan grabbed his hand, dragging Chad from his seat as he announced to his mother and sister that they were going to the bathroom and they'd be right back.
Ryan held Chad's hand tightly as he weaved through the crowds milling about in the lobby.
"Dude! Evans!" Chad called out over the din of voices. "We just passed the bathroom. Where are we going?"
Ryan grinned over his shoulder. "You'll see."
A few moments later, Ryan was dragging him through a door, into a corridor, though another door, down a flight of stairs....
"Uh, Ryan? I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to be here."
"Trust me," Ryan chuckled. He opened yet another door and stepped through it, gesturing for Chad to follow.
Chad stepped through the door, gazing around curiously. "What is this place?" He stepped onto a raised concrete slab that overlooked a parked tractor trailer. A single industrial floodlight illuminated the concrete, but as Chad stepped away from the door and the glare of the light, he could see the clear night sky above.
"Loading dock," Ryan said matter-of-factly. "This is how they get all the sets and large instruments and lights and stuff into the auditorium."
"And you know this because..?" Chad asked, grinning.
"Hello? Theatre boy!" Ryan gestured to himself. "I've been in shows here before."
"No!" Chad laughed, unable to resist teasing. "I mean, how do you even know what a loading dock is, Ry? You wouldn't know physical labor if it bit you on the ass!"
Ryan's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Oh, I'll show you physical labor, Danforth!"
He took an aggressive step towards Chad, grabbing the lapels of Chad's suit jacket to pull him close. Chad closed the remainder of the distance, circling his arms around Ryan's waist and covering Ryan's mouth with his.
"God, I've been wanting to do that since I first saw you back at the house," Ryan breathed against Chad's mouth when they finally parted, gasping for breath.
"You have?" Chad laughed as he kissed his way along Ryan's jawline. "Thought I was gonna explode, sitting next to you all prim and proper while your mom talked to me about Saint Saynes--"
"Saint-Saëns?"
"Whatever. The point is, you look really hot tonight and we're on a chaperoned date and it's been driving me crazy to not be able to even touch you. It's like being in homeroom with Darbus or something."
Ryan pulled away, giggling. "You didn't just compare my mom to Ms. Darbus, did you? I thought you liked my mom!"
Chad caught hold of Ryan's tie before he could step away and pulled him back. "Dude, shut up. You know what I mean. How long is intermission, anyway?" He circled his arms around Ryan's waist and interlaced his fingers at the small of the other boy's back.
"Fifteen minutes." Ryan peered down at his watch. "And we've got seven minutes left."
"Then how about less talk and more physical labor?"
Ryan smirked, arching an eyebrow. "You said I wouldn't know physical labor if it bit me on the ass."
"Then I guess I'll have to teach you. Or bite you on the ass. Or something."
Ryan snorted. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"
"Oh, shut up, Evans," Chad growled as he tugged Ryan's body firmly against his, claiming those smirking lips in a hungry kiss.
----
The second half of the concert flew by, and before Chad knew it, he was following Mrs. Evans and the twins out of the auditorium.
"So, did you enjoy your first symphony concert, Chad?" Mrs. Evans asked as the foursome walked back to the car after the concert.
The question was innocent enough, but Chad felt pressured to give the right answer. Especially when Ryan was holding his hand and smiling expectantly at him.
"Um, I liked it a lot," Chad answered honestly. "I've never been to anything like it, so it was...uh...different. But good. I liked the music. I could really picture all the animals in my head."
Ryan's smile widened and he gave Chad's hand a squeeze. Evidently that was good enough. Chad exhaled a sigh of relief. The Evanses had been so nice to him tonight. The last thing he wanted to do was offend them all in one fell swoop.
"I'm so glad," Mrs. Evans said cheerfully. "I know that not everyone likes classical music, especially teenagers," she chuckled, "but I truly believe it has something to offer everyone. After all, Mozart was a bit of a rock star in his time, wasn't he?"
Ryan and Sharpay chuckled. Chad smiled vaguely, feeling like he had missed the punchline of a joke.
"Well, Chad," Mrs. Evans continued, "If you are at all interested, we're just about to renew our season tickets for the symphony. It'd be just as easy to buy five tickets as four. Would you care to join us?"
Chad was stunned, unable to speak. He heard Ryan gasp softly. "Really, Mom?"
"Of course, Ducky!" she answered, laughing. "Your father and I discussed it before he left, and we agreed that if Chad enjoyed the symphony then we should invite him to join us next season."
Finally, Chad found his voice. "Wow, that's really nice of you to offer, Mrs. E., but I don't think my mom would let--"
"Nonsense," Mrs. Evans cut him off. "You're a friend of the family, and we enjoy treating our friends to a nice evening out now and then." She took his hand, smiling at him eagerly. "Surely your mother will understand? I can have a talk with her if you’d like."
Chad looked to Ryan helplessly, but the other boy looked even more eager than his mother. The only one who didn't look absolutely thrilled at the prospect was Sharpay, who was preoccupied with texting one of her girlfriends on her cell phone.
Chad chewed his lower lip, considering the offer. To be honest, he had no idea what his mom would think about it. It was just the first excuse off the top of his head. The symphony tickets were expensive. It was probably just pocket change to Ryan and his family, but Chad knew he would always feel indebted to them for the extravagant gift. Especially when he was still scrimping and saving every penny to buy a car.
"Please say you'll join us," Mrs. Evans said gently after a few moments. "You don't have to attend every concert. I know you're very busy with sports and applying to colleges. But we'd love it if you could make it to a few."
Chad exhaled a long breath and nodded. "If my mom says it's okay, then I'd like that, too."
Ryan practically squeaked his giddy delight, leaning up on his toes to press a smacky kiss to Chad's temple.
Chad felt his cheeks burn as he blushed. "Dude, not in front of your mom!"
But as his half-hearted protests prompted ever more enthusiastic displays of affection from Ryan, Chad realized with a grin that he'd have a lot more intermissions with Ryan to look forward to in the future.
~The End~